Staten Island woman hit by car in South Beach dies from her injuries

Bill Lyons/Staten Island AdvanceCops investigate the scene after Stacey Garber was hit by a car near the South Beach park-and-ride a little more than a week ago. Ms. Garber died from her injuries early this morning, a hospital spokesperson told the Advance.

Stacey Garber, of Rossville Avenue, had been in the intensive care unit at the Ocean Breeze hospital since the Aug. 9 accident with severe injuries to her head and arms.

According to police sources, Ms. Garber had parked in the lot shortly before midnight that night before walking out onto the center median of Capodanno Boulevard to flag down her aunt and direct her into the lot.

However as she turned to return to the lot, Ms. Garber walked against the light and was struck by a silver Honda Civic, knocking her out of her shoes, law enforcement sources said.

The car's driver, NYPD Officer George C. Shammas, was heading home after finishing a shift at the 122nd Precinct's satellite in New Springville, according to a police source familiar with the case. He was going about 50 mph, the source said, despite the posted 35 mph speed limit.

Ms. Garber, who was wearing black clothing and her iPod headphones, had just directed her aunt into the park-and-ride lot, the source said. Shammas' attention was focused on the aunt's car, and didn't notice Ms. Garber crossing against the light until it was too late, the source noted.

Police on the scene administered a blood alcohol test, which showed Shammas had no trace of alcohol in his system, the source said.

Though he'll receive a speeding ticket, his speed alone -- 15 mph over the posted limit -- doesn't warrant criminal charges, according to several law enforcement sources, particularly because Ms. Garber appeared to be crossing when she didn't have the light.